Information on Segments and Reconciliation to Earnings Before Income Taxes from Continuing Operations (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 523,489	$ 485,195	$ 482,700	$ 532,665	$ 484,429	$ 452,150	$ 444,999	$ 495,269	$ 2,024,049	$ 1,876,847	$ 1,752,787
Assets	1,735,149				1,502,072				1,735,149	1,502,072
Earnings Before Income Taxes	48,739	45,092	17,627	71,919	49,810	42,085	39,329	59,562	183,377	190,786	176,439
Depreciation and Amortization									603,564	549,532	519,371
Interest Expense									4,709	3,096	4,299
Capital Expenditure	2,800								78,211	87,636	83,140
Sales and Lease Ownership
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									1,938,991	1,803,778	1,685,841
Assets	1,293,151				1,248,785				1,293,151	1,248,785	1,110,675
Earnings Before Income Taxes									143,686	159,417	147,261
Depreciation and Amortization									588,036	539,669	508,218
Interest Expense									4,473	2,937	4,030
Capital Expenditure									53,502	73,166	76,151
Franchise
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									63,255	59,112	52,941
Assets	56,131				55,789				56,131	55,789	51,245
Earnings Before Income Taxes									49,577	45,935	39,335
Depreciation and Amortization									41	41	192
HomeSmart
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									15,624	56
Assets	50,600				955				50,600	955
Earnings Before Income Taxes									(7,283)	(318)
Depreciation and Amortization									5,933	21
Interest Expense									201	2
Capital Expenditure									11,349	202
Manufacturing
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									89,430	79,115	72,473
Assets	11,142				14,723				11,142	14,723	15,512
Earnings Before Income Taxes									2,960	3,216	3,329
Depreciation and Amortization									1,294	2,958	1,888
Interest Expense									142	15	15
Capital Expenditure									6,521	6,584	1,474
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									9,960	16,458	19,320
Assets	324,125				181,820				324,125	181,820	144,024
Earnings Before Income Taxes									(141)	(7,847)	(5,676)
Depreciation and Amortization									8,260	6,843	9,073
Interest Expense									(107)	142	254
Capital Expenditure									11,752	9,118	6,338
Reportable Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									2,117,260	1,958,519	1,830,575
Earnings Before Income Taxes									188,799	200,403	184,249
Elimination of Intersegment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									(89,953)	(80,109)	(73,184)
Earnings Before Income Taxes									(2,959)	(3,218)	(3,341)
Cash to Accrual and Other Adjustments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									(3,258)	(1,563)	(4,604)
Earnings Before Income Taxes									(2,463)	(6,399)	(4,469)
Segment, Continuing Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	1,735,149				1,502,072				1,735,149	1,502,072	1,321,456
Capital Expenditure									83,124	89,070	83,963
CANADA | Sales and Lease Ownership
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									3,258	4,470	3,781
Assets	$ 1,527				$ 15,093				$ 1,527	$ 15,093	$ 6,469